April to bring more spring-like weather?

According to Locker, the average daytime highs in April are in the 50s. If the prediction of warmed weather holds true, April could feel more summer-like than the first steppingstone away from winter.The days are already getting longer, providing some hope to winter's oppressed. Though the change is minute, with each pass...

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By Mark Spencley

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

By Mark Spencley

Posted Mar. 25, 2013 at 7:38 PM

By Mark Spencley

Posted Mar. 25, 2013 at 7:38 PM

Cheboygan, Mich.

By MARK SPENCLEY

mark@cheboygantribune.com

CHEBOYGAN – Winter's icy grip has clutched northern Michigan for much of the last five months, only relaxing for a moment or two. Though there appears to be no end in sight, a sudden disappearing act could be the last trick old man winter has up his sleeve.

There has been snow on the ground since early November and consistent cold has allowed little reprieve from winters chilling elements. With April now on the near horizon, winters days are numbered and the time it takes for the stark white landscape to transform into spring could be less than might be expected.

"Once April comes, things can change pretty fast," said Tim Locker, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord. "It doesn't take long for the snow to melt and things can warm up pretty fast too. I'm sure you remember last year. We had a big snowstorm one weekend and we were seeing highs in the 80s two weeks later."

Neither sudden warm up nor a balmy April would come as much of a surprise to weather experts. The Climate Prediction Center has called for a warmer than average spring across northern Michigan.

According to Locker, the average daytime highs in April are in the 50s. If the prediction of warmed weather holds true, April could feel more summer-like than the first steppingstone away from winter.

The days are already getting longer, providing some hope to winter's oppressed. Though the change is minute, with each passing day, sunrise comes a little earlier and sunset hangs on a few minutes longer. Day to day, the change is almost imperceptible, mere minutes lost in handfuls of hours. But the warmth that rides on those few extra rays of sun never go unnoticed.

"Its hard to say exactly what will happen. There are no absolutes in weather," Locker joked. "Things can change pretty fast though. Anyone who lives up here already knows that. It could go from winter to spring just like that. We've seen it before."